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Authorities forced to hunt javelina after attacks near Sedona

Arizona's deserts are home to many creepy crawly creatures. Some are entirely harmless, but others aren't. Here's 11 to watch out for. Peter Haden/ Cronkite News

12 dangerous creatures in Arizona

Arizona's deserts are home to many creepy crawly creatures. Some are entirely harmless, but others aren't. Here's 11 to watch out for.
Peter Haden/ Cronkite News

It is the only venomous lizard native to the United States. A nocturnal creature, the Gila monster attacks humans only in defense. In Arizona, it is a protected species. Tom Tingle/The Republic

12 dangerous creatures in Arizona

It is the only venomous lizard native to the United States. A nocturnal creature, the Gila monster attacks humans only in defense. In Arizona, it is a protected species.
Tom Tingle/The Republic

Thirteen species of rattlesnakes live in Arizona, more than any other state, according to Arizona Game and Fish. If you hear the warning rattle, it is just that — the snake is telling you not to come any closer. Stay calm and give it a wide berth. Move away from the rattler with slow, non-threatening, non-sudden movements. Dave Seibert/The Republic

12 dangerous creatures in Arizona

Thirteen species of rattlesnakes live in Arizona, more than any other state, according to Arizona Game and Fish. If you hear the warning rattle, it is just that — the snake is telling you not to come any closer. Stay calm and give it a wide berth. Move away from the rattler with slow, non-threatening, non-sudden movements.
Dave Seibert/The Republic

The highly aggressive Africanized bee population has risen by at least 1,000 percent in Arizona this year, according to Reed Booth. Known religiously as the “killer” bee, this hybrid species is known to defend its hive relentlessly when disturbed, viciously attacking anything—or anyone—in their path. Mark Henle/The Republic

12 dangerous creatures in Arizona

The highly aggressive Africanized bee population has risen by at least 1,000 percent in Arizona this year, according to Reed Booth. Known religiously as the “killer” bee, this hybrid species is known to defend its hive relentlessly when disturbed, viciously attacking anything—or anyone—in their path.
Mark Henle/The Republic

The bark scorpion is the most common type of scorpion in Arizona and can cause severe medical problems. All other scorpions pose a much smaller threat to humans. Diana Payan/The Republic

12 dangerous creatures in Arizona

The bark scorpion is the most common type of scorpion in Arizona and can cause severe medical problems. All other scorpions pose a much smaller threat to humans.
Diana Payan/The Republic

Coral snakes have a blunt black snout and bands of red, yellow (sometimes white) and black that completely encircle the body, and the yellow and red bands touch. A coral snake's venom is two or three times more potent than that of most rattlesnakes, but their fangs are smaller, and they inject less venom. Rick Graveson

12 dangerous creatures in Arizona

Coral snakes have a blunt black snout and bands of red, yellow (sometimes white) and black that completely encircle the body, and the yellow and red bands touch. A coral snake's venom is two or three times more potent than that of most rattlesnakes, but their fangs are smaller, and they inject less venom.
Rick Graveson

A tarantula can use its fangs to inflict a bite, or it can use its barbed and mildly venomous abdominal hairs, according to desertusa.com. It appears that tarantulas cause no long term damage in most cases. Republic File Photo

12 dangerous creatures in Arizona

A tarantula can use its fangs to inflict a bite, or it can use its barbed and mildly venomous abdominal hairs, according to desertusa.com. It appears that tarantulas cause no long term damage in most cases.
Republic File Photo

The bite from a centipede, while very painful, generally does not require medical attention, according to the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences at University of Arizona. Jupiterimages

12 dangerous creatures in Arizona

The bite from a centipede, while very painful, generally does not require medical attention, according to the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences at University of Arizona.
Jupiterimages

There are about five species of brown spiders in Arizona, according to the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences at University of Arizona. Their venom usually causes aches and swelling, but it can result in a necrotic ulcer. Getty Images

12 dangerous creatures in Arizona

There are about five species of brown spiders in Arizona, according to the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences at University of Arizona. Their venom usually causes aches and swelling, but it can result in a necrotic ulcer.
Getty Images

The female black widow spider is considered the most venomous spider in North America, according to desertusa.com. The venom of the black widow spider is 15 times as toxic as the venom of the prairie rattlesnake. Charlie Leight/The Republic

12 dangerous creatures in Arizona

The female black widow spider is considered the most venomous spider in North America, according to desertusa.com. The venom of the black widow spider is 15 times as toxic as the venom of the prairie rattlesnake.
Charlie Leight/The Republic

Yes, Sonoran Desert Toads are poisonous, not venomous (poison is ingested, venom is injected.) These toads have glands that produce a poison that can kill an adult dog. The Republic

12 dangerous creatures in Arizona

Yes, Sonoran Desert Toads are poisonous, not venomous (poison is ingested, venom is injected.) These toads have glands that produce a poison that can kill an adult dog.
The Republic

The Blister Beetle excretes an irritant from its joints when it is trapped. This irritant causes blistering much like poision ivy, according to University of Arizona College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Korpongstudio/Getty Images

12 dangerous creatures in Arizona

The Blister Beetle excretes an irritant from its joints when it is trapped. This irritant causes blistering much like poision ivy, according to University of Arizona College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
Korpongstudio/Getty Images

This bug typically bites people while they are asleep so it takes several hours to know you have been bitten. The bite usually causes swelling, but repeated exposure has been known to cause allergies that may require hospitalization. University of Arizona

12 dangerous creatures in Arizona

This bug typically bites people while they are asleep so it takes several hours to know you have been bitten. The bite usually causes swelling, but repeated exposure has been known to cause allergies that may require hospitalization.
University of Arizona

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The Arizona Game and Fish Department is warning people not feed wildlife, after two people were bitten by javelina near Sedona, forcing authorities to kill all wild javelina in the area.

A 79-year-old woman was bitten by a javelina on Feb. 5 after she tried to stop the wild animal from attacking her dogs. The game and fish officer who responded said the woman had purposely been feeding a squadron of javelina at her home.

The woman was attacked in her neighborhood just southwest of Sedona. She was treated in Sedona and released from a hospital.

A second incident happened on Feb. 25. The agency said a man was bitten by a javelina in Oak Creek Village near Sedona. He was feeding the animals in his backyard, and one attacked when he didn't feed them quickly enough, officials said.

Game and Fish officials said feeding wild animals not only can endanger humans but can result in injury or death to the animals that threatened any individuals.

Squadron of javelina(Photo: Arizona Game & Fish Department)

The Sedona-area incidents prompted the department to work with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services to kill all javelina within a quarter-mile radius of the victims' residences.

"The decision to lethally remove the animals was based on the attacks, an imminent public safety threat created by intentional feeding, the habituation and loss of fear to humans by the javelina, and a concern for possible rabies," The Arizona Game and Fish Department said in a statement.

Just eight months ago, a javelina tested positive for rabies in Sedona, according to the department.

All the animals killed after the attacks were sent to a lab for rabies testing, the department said. So far, none of the animals near the victims' houses have tested positive for rabies, though some test results are still pending.

Arizona Game and Fish said they don't want to be in a position where they have to make the difficult decision to kill wildlife, and people can help by not feeding any animals out in the wild.

If an animal is behaving unusually or makes an appearance on your property, the agency said, residents should contact local law enforcement or the appropriate county community health services department.